Dirigible headlight



v Spt. 1,1925. 1,552,402 W.'S. EDWARDS DI RIGIBLE HEADLIGHT '18 V 16 36, J7 V wlTNEss ATTORNEY i) I I Sept. 1, 1925. V 1,552,402

W. S. EDWARDS DIRIGIBLE HBADLI GHT Original Filed Nov. so, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 1, 1925,

WILLIAM S. EDWARDS, 0F ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA.

.DIBIGIBLE HEADLIGHT.

Application filed November 30, 1923, Serial o. 577,812. Reuewed Jul 24, 1925.

To all whom/ it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. EDWARDS, a citizen of the United States, residing'at Asheville, in the county of Buncombe and State of North Carolina, have invented new and useful Improvements in Dirigible Headlights, of which the following is" a specification;

This inventionrelates to improvements in automobile head lamps, an object being to provide means whereby the lamps may be moved horizontally to project the rays of light directly in advance of the direction of travel ofthe automobile.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means whereby the lamps may be adjusted to regulate the elevation of the rays of light, the adjustment being effected from the drivers seat so thatthe lamps may be quickly regulated to suit varyingconditions.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means whereby the means provided for supporting the lamps for horizontal movement, will also provide supporting 7 p The arms 17 may be supported in any. suitmeans for the vertically adjustable means for the lamps. i 7

Another object of the invention is the provision of means for supporting a lamp as above stated which is capable of horizontal rotary adjustment, so tha-t the lamp. may serve either as a spot light, or a trouble light. With the above and other objects in view,

, the inventionfurther includes the following novel features and details of construction, to be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the appended claims. In the drawings r Figurerl is a front elevation of an auto.- mobile with the invention applied;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view partly in section. e

Figure 3 is a section taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 1. m Figure 4 is a detailvertical section showing the manner of supporting the spot light. Figure 5 is a fragmentary section taken substantially on the line 5 5 of Figure -1.

Figure 6 is adetail plan viewshowing the means of connecting the lamps with the steering knuckle connecting rod.

Flgure 7 a section on the line 77 of F1gure6. 1 Figure 8 is a fragmentary view of the opposite end of the inclined rod shown in Figure 6.

Figure 9 is adet'ail sectional view'showing the means for adjusting the lamps vertically and holding them in adjusted position;

Figure 10 is an enlarged section on the line 10-10 of Figure 9. r

Figures 11 and 12 are fragmentary views illustrating means whereby the lamps may be manually operated to move the lamps horizontally as wellas downwardy.

Referring to the drawings indetail wherein llke characters'of reference denotecorresponding parts, the reference character 15 indlcates a pair of automobile. head lamps whichare supported upon a rock shaft 16, the latter extending transversely across the front of the automobile and having its opposite-ends mounted in bearing arms 17.

able manner and are shown in the present case as being supported upon the usual fender brace rods.

Connection between the lamps l5 and the rock shaft 16 is effected through the me dium of brackets 19, thelatter includingverso tically arrangedsleeves 20 through which bolts 21 extend. These bolts have a threaded engagementwiththe rock shaft 1 6.as shown. 1n Figure 3 of the drawings and'have their opposite ends providedwith nuts 22' which 5 bear against the upper ends of the sleeve and provide proper frictional engagement so as to hold .thefla'm'ps' against'accide'ntal pivotal v movement or rattling. Extending from one of the brackets 19 is'a substantially L-shape'd arm 23 which has mounted, thereon a sleeve 24, the latter being adjustable upon the rod and held in adjusted position by means of a jamb nut 25. This sleeve has extending therefrom an apertured lug 26 which receives one endof a rod 27, the said rod being provided with. a substantially L-shaped, ex tremity around which is positioned a spring 28 so as to provide an anti-rattling connection with the lug 26. The opposite end of the rod 27 is pivotally connected as shown at 29 with a plate 30 and the latter is in turn secured to the usual rod or bar 31 which connects the steering knuckles 82 of the front wheels of the automobile, connection between the plate 30 and rod 31 being effected by means of a U-bolt 33 as shown in Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings.

When the automobile is traveling straightahead, the lamps will project their rays of light in a straight line in front ofthe ante mobile, but when steered in either direction the rays of light will be projected directly in front of the direction of travel ofthe vehicle so that the roadway in advance of the vehicle is always lighted. Simultaneous movement of the lamps is provided for by means of a rod 34 which has its opposite ends connected to the lampeae indicated at 35 in Figure 3 of the drawings".-

As previously stated, the shaft 16 is mounted for rocking movement in the bracket 17 and to effect this rocking movement the shaft 16 has secured thereto one end of an arm 36. The opposite end of this arm has connected thereto one end of a rod 37, the" opposite end of which extends within the body of the vehicle. A spring 38 surrounds the end of the rod 37 adjacent its connection with the rod 36 so as to prevent rattling; The inner end of the rod 36' has connected thereto a rack bar 39 the teeth of which are adapted to engage a bracket 40 which is secured to the steering column of the automobile. This bracket is provided with an opening lfor the passage of the rack bar 39, the teeth of which engageone edge cf the opening. A spring 42 serves to yieldingly hold the teeth in engagement with the bracket 40, while a handle or grip 43 is provided at the up er end of the rack bar by means of which the said bar may be fl l al llplllate'd:

When moving the rack bar longitudinally ofthe steering column, the lamps may be rocked vertically to regulate the elevation of the rays of light, while the en agement of the rack bar with the bracket 40 will held the lamps adjusted position; The lamps may thus be easily and quickly adjusted to suit varying conditions. 1

Also mounted upon the eek shaft leis a lam 4A, the latter being spaced above the hood of thejautoniobile and being capable of horizontairetary movement whereby the lampmajy serve either as spot light or a trouble lamp. The lamp 5L4: I is supported upon ahracket 45 which includes a vertieany disposed sleev 46 and extending through this sleeve is a bolt-or rod 47 having connection witha collar 48 fast upon the sh ft "16.- A nut 49 serves be regulate frictional engagement. Secured upon the Lower end of the sleeve 46 is a gear 50 which is engaged by a rack bar 51, the latter being mounted in suitable guides and extending rearward to within convenient reach of the driver of the automobile whereby the position of the lamp 44 may be adjusted.

The invention is susceptible of various changes in its form, proportions and minor details of construction and the right is herein reserved to make such changes as properly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention what is claimed is 1. A dirigible headlight of the character described comprising a rock shaft positioned transversely on the front portion of a vehicle, a pair of head lamps secured to the upper portion of the rock shaft and adjacent the other end portions thereof, a substantially L=shaped inwardly extending arm positioned on one of the lamps and having its opposite end portions secured to the steering means of the vehicle, manually operated means for tilting said rock shaft and lamp and means extending transversely of the vehicle and connected to the head lamp for turning the said lamp laterally simultaneously.

2. Dir'gible headlights of the character described comprising a transversely extending rook shaft positioned on the front of a vehicle, a pair of head lamps positioned on the rock shaft adjacent the outer end portions thereof, and inwardly extending substantially L-shaped arms connected to one of the lamps and having its opposite end portions secured to the steering rod of the vehicle, the transversely extending bar pivotally secured to the under sides of the lamp", a rigid bar secured to the rock shaft, and manually operated retractile means positioned within the vehicle and connected with the rigid shaft for the purpose set forth.

3'. Dirigible headlights of the character described comprising a rock shaft secured transversely in advance of the vehicle, a pair of head lamps secured to the rock shaft and adjacent the outer end portions thereof, a transversely extending bar pivotally secured to the tinder side of lamp, a substantially L-shaped inwardly extending bar connected to one of the headlamps and having its free end portion pivotally secured to the steering rod of the vehicle, an auxiliary lamp extending above and'secured to the rock shaft, gear bearing arms a pair of head lamps secured to the upper portion of the rock shaft and adjacent the outer end portions thereof, a rigid rod positioned on said rock shaft and 5 extending downwardly therefrom, manually operated means positioned within the vehicle within convenient use of the driver and having its opposite end portion connected to the rigid shaft for tilting said lamp, a transversely extending shaft having its opposite 10 end portions pivotally secured to the undersides of the lamp, and an auxiliary lamp positioned on said rock shaft for simultaneous lateral and tilting movement with the head lamps.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WILLIAM S. EDWARDS. 

